PRINCE William paid his respects to two friends killed on active service when he visited a national memorial.

He also met wounded troops and the widow of a soldier on his tour of the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.

William spent a private moment remembering his fallen comrades, Second Lieutenant Jo Dyer and Captain Lex Roberts, who are among the last names to be engraved at the memorial.

Second Lt Dyer, who died in Iraq in 2007, and Capt Roberts, who was killed in Afghanistan in the same year, were both at Sandhurst with the Prince.

William also met Corporal Simon Brown, who was hit by a sniper’s bullet in Basra in December 2006, as well as Tricia Wall, whose husband Colin died in Iraq in 2003, and their son Alex.

The Prince visited the site to launch the NMA Future Foundations Appeal and be formally invited to become its patron.

The Arboretum is home to the Armed Forces Memorial, which remembers those who have died in conflict while on duty or as a result of terrorist action since the Second World War.

The new NMA appeal aims to raise £8?million to develop the Arboretum into a world-renowned centre for remembrance, including a new education facility, Veterans Pavilion and central space where major memorial services can be held.

In a brief speech accepting his invitation to be the appeal’s patron, William said: “It is an immense honour for me to be the patron of this appeal, to have the chance to contribute something towards ensuring that future generations can come and learn with pride of the great debt that we owe all those commemorated here, whether they be military or civilians from the police, fire and ambulance services.

“Thank you to the appeal committee for the vital work that you are undertaking, thank you to those of you who are supporting this appeal, and, finally, thank you for according me this great privilege of becoming your patron.”

Earlier he sat on the 750,000th machine made by JCB when he called into the company’s world headquarters in Staffordshire. The Prince was greeted by hundreds of schoolchildren before being shown around the world-famous construction equipment manufacturer.

JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford said: “It really is an important day for us, 750,000 machines is a lot of machines for anybody.”

Speaking as he climbed on to the 750,000th machine, William joked: “I won’t drive it away. This is my own personal one.”

JCB has been forced to make redundancies in order to cope with the economic crisis and many employees are working a four-day week to save jobs.

Welding team leader Mick Grantham, aged 53, said William spoke about the recession and was sympathetic towards employees.

Mr Grantham, from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, said: “It’s fantastic that he has come here. It’s good to see the Royal family taking an interest.”